Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington is an American actor, director, and producer known for work across film, television, and theatre. His major distinctions include two Academy Awards, a Tony Award, and the AFI Life Achievement Award.

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About Denzel Washington

Profile information current to 2026-08-22.

United States · Actor, Film director, Producer · 1 affiliation

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Known for: Film acting; Theatre acting; Film directing; Television acting and production
Country: United States

Actor
Film director
Producer

At a glance

Washington's acting career spans film, television, and Broadway theatre.
He won Academy Awards for Glory and Training Day.
His four feature-film directing credits are Antwone Fisher, The Great Debaters, Fences, and A Journal for Jordan.
He won the 2010 Tony Award for Actor in a Play for Fences and later starred in the 2025 Broadway revival of Othello.
Washington received the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2019 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025.

Background and education

Washington was born on December 28, 1954, in Mount Vernon, New York. Fordham University identifies him as a 1977 graduate of Fordham College at Lincoln Center, although Fordham and the American Film Institute differ in how they describe his academic field.

Screen career and filmmaking

Washington gained sustained television exposure as Dr. Philip Chandler on NBC's St. Elsewhere, which ran from 1982 to 1988. His film work brought Academy Awards for Glory and Training Day, while his directing credits comprise Antwone Fisher, The Great Debaters, Fences, and A Journal for Jordan. The Television Academy also records two Primetime Emmy nominations, including one for his work as a producer.

Theatre and major honors

Washington won the 2010 Tony Award for Actor in a Play for Fences and starred as Othello in the 2025 Broadway revival of Othello. His wider career honors include the 2019 AFI Life Achievement Award and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, presented by President Joe Biden in January 2025.

Fordham service and support

Washington served on Fordham University's Board of Trustees from 1994 to 2000. Fordham also states that he established the Denzel Washington Endowed Chair in Theatre and a scholarship fund for theatre students in 2011.

Affiliations

Fordham University Member, Board of Trustees 1994–2000

Timeline

1977 Graduated as a member of the Fordham College at Lincoln Center Class of 1977.
1982 Began playing Dr. Philip Chandler on NBC's St. Elsewhere.
1989 Won an Academy Award for Glory.
2001 Won an Academy Award for Training Day.
2002 Directed and starred in Antwone Fisher.
2010 Won the Tony Award for Actor in a Play for Fences.
2019-06-06 Received the 47th AFI Life Achievement Award.
2025-01-04 Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden.

Additional verified details

Current context

Washington's most recent Broadway credit identified in the consulted official Broadway database was the 2025 revival of Othello, in which he starred as Othello; the production closed on June 8, 2025. This identifies the most recent Broadway credit in the consulted IBDB record and is not a comprehensive statement of all current or future work.

Biographical facts

Denzel Washington was born on December 28, 1954, in Mount Vernon, New York.
Fordham University identifies Washington as a member of the Fordham College at Lincoln Center Class of 1977.
Washington played Dr. Philip Chandler in NBC's St. Elsewhere, which ran from 1982 to 1988.
Washington directed Antwone Fisher, The Great Debaters, Fences, and A Journal for Jordan; he also starred in the first three films.
The Television Academy records two Primetime Emmy nominations for Washington, including a 2001 nomination as a producer of Half Past Autumn: The Life and Works of Gordon Parks.
Washington served on Fordham University's Board of Trustees from 1994 to 2000 and established an endowed theatre chair and a scholarship fund for theatre students in 2011.